The Brooklyn Nets wanted the Miami Heat in the playoffs, and honestly, it's a compelling matchup.

No disrespect to the Toronto Raptors, but who can resist LeBron James vs. Paul Pierce? Once more — and perhaps for the final time — James and Dwyane Wade, Pierce and Kevin Garnett will tangle in the postseason.

The Nets beat the Heat all four times they played this season, and there is suspicion the Nets wanted the sixth seed rather than the fifth seed so they could play Toronto in the first round and Miami in the second.

Brooklyn lost four of its five final regular-season games and dropped to the sixth seed, avoiding Chicago, who beat Brooklyn in the playoffs a season ago, in the first round, and Indiana in the second round.

The Heat, who are trying to win their third consecutive title and get to the Finals for the fourth consecutive time, are downplaying Brooklyn's success against them.

"Teams are more prepared," James told news reporters after practice Sunday. "You have more time to prepare for a team and prepare for individuals. What you did in the regular season doesn't matter in the postseason."

Three of Brooklyn's four victories against the Heat were by one point — 101-100, 96-95 and 88-87 — and the Nets like their small lineup with Joe Johnson at small forward, Pierce at power forward and Garnett at center against Miami.

That's a page out of Miami's playbook. The Heat like to create mismatches by playing their style regardless of size, and that's how Brooklyn went from a struggling team early in the season to a much-improved team now. Nets center Brook Lopez's injury spurred the move to a smaller lineup but credit Nets coach Jason Kidd for finding answers soon enough.

Despite the sixth seed, Brooklyn was the second-best team in the East in 2014 with a .667 winning percentage, better than Miami's .588.

James conceded, "Every team that's in the playoffs now is better than they were in the regular season."

GALLERY: LeBron James through the years

LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Two-time champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. David Richard, USA TODAY Sports

The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami. J Pat Carter, AP

Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports

After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals. Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. Lynne Sladky, AP

Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent. Mark Duncan, AP

It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together. J.Pat Carter, AP

Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010. Al Diaz, AP

In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat. Bob Luckey, Greenwich Time via AP

Before he left for Miami, LeBron James, celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Greg Pearson, USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career. Tony Dejak, AP

James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Sports

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

But Miami won't mind playing Chris Bosh at center against Garnett and James at power forward against Pierce when necessary.

"I don't think we played our best basketball again them," Heat guard Ray Allen said. "When I think about the games, we had inconsistent lineups. But guys that were in there played well, but we just didn't play well enough, and defensively weren't good. So hats off to them because they beat us four times. But we didn't particularly like how we played in those games."

Garnett and Pierce bring some of that old Boston Celtics dislike to this series against the Heat, and in the preseason Wade admitted the bad blood between Pierce and Garnett will "transfer well" to Brooklyn.

"You might see green when you see those guys," Wade said then.

And remember, Garnett and Pierce still have lingering bitterness about Allen's decision to leave Boston for Miami after the 2011-12 season. This will have the intensity of a conference finals regardless of how long the series lasts.

James vs. Pierce has been an almost-annual rite of spring in the NBA playoffs, and it's a postseason rivalry that started in 2008 when James played for Cleveland and Pierce for Boston.

In 25 playoff games, James is 13-12 against Pierce, averaging 30.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists, and James' Heat teams have won the past two series against Pierce — the 2011 conference semifinals and 2012 conference finals.

In the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead, but James had 45 points and 15 rebounds in Miami's Game 6 victory and 31 and 12 in the Game 7 win.

James is recovering from a bruised right thigh. "By Tuesday night, I should be close to 100 percent," James said.

The Heat haven't played since April 28 and will be well-rested by opening tip. The layoff will generate a tired rest vs. rust debate, but the Heat wanted rest.

"Any time you can get rest for our team, obviously it's good," Wade said.

VIDEO: Breaking down the NBA playoffs insanity

USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick examines the wild first round of the NBA playoffs and looks ahead to the second round.